One friend of mine has a passion for growing potted bulbs. She loves the ability to have "moving color" wherever she wants it. Here's some tips from her on how she pots and grows her flowering bulbs.

First of all she uses new pots or one she has scrubbed clean and ran through a 10% bleach solution. But she always first soaks in water until bubbles cease to form before ever potting. In the bottom of each pot she places broken crockery for drainage. Above this she puts a light layer of coarse peat. To within 2 to 3 inches below the rim of the pot, depending on the size of the bulbs, she fills a mixture of 1/3 peat and sand, 2/3 garden soil. After firming this she places the bulbs and adds more of the soil mixture just below the rim of the pot. This she also firms. When finished the nose of the bulbs are visible above the soil. If a little more soil is still needed she adds what is required, firming it nicely.

The pots are then plunged one by one in a bucket of water. When they cease bubbling they are removed and allowed to drain. When drained they are placed in a cool dark place to root. Most bulbs are rooted in the dark but not all. In the light in a cool room she places Paper-white Narcissus, Grand Soleil d'or Narcissus, Hyacinths, Freesias, Anemones and Ranunculus.

Bulbs Favorites for Potted Culture

MUSCARI (Grape Hyacinth)

Heavenly Blue is commonly called Grape Hyacinth. It is a good name too because that is just what they look like. The flowers for all the world resemble inverted miniature bunches of grapes. Plant the bulbs in shoals or "drifts" either large or small, set them in the rockery; grow them by shrubbery and along the walk. They are hardy, will increase rapidly, and may be grown in pots. Height about 9 to 10 inches. The blossoms have a faint musk odor hence the name Muscari. Plant the bulbs 2 inches deep, 2 inches apart.

NARCISSUS

The culture for the Narcissus either in the garden or in pots is the same as for the Daffodil. The entire family of Narcissus lend themselves admirably to naturalizing. Grow them in open woodland, on sunny slopes, in grassy meadows, by the garden pool and along the landscaping walks. Before planting the bulbs in grassy meadows, see to it that the soil is well fertilized, as they must depend for a long time on the food that is in the soil. Do not cut the grass until after the Narcissus foliage has ripened. Plant the bulbs 5 inches deep, 4 inches apart.

Polyanthus Narcissus are NOT hardy. They are mostly grown in pots, fancy bowls and shallow dishes. They blossom in about 6 or 7 weeks and are grown in the light in a cool room. Set them in soil in clay Pots, in bulb fibre in fancy bowls or in pebbles and water in shallow dishes. Paperwhites bear waxy scented white blossoms in bunches. Grand Soleil d'or has a yellow flower with reddish orange cup. It is also scented and produces its flowers in clusters. In flower about a week later than Paperwhite Narcissus, Soleil d'or is a little taller.